5 injured after van falls into ravine near Forevermore locale

BAGUIO, Philippines – After the immensely popular telenovela “Forevermore” ended its run last Friday, May 22, a van carrying tourists fell Sunday afternoon on the way to the main shooting locale atop Mt. Cabuyao, injuring 5 of them.

The police report identified those injured and now recuperating at the Baguio General Hospital as Carol Santos, Ian Lopez, Lilibeth Sebilla and a certain Jenny. They were among the passengers in a van which fell into a 90-foot ravine at Km. 9 along Sto. Tomas Rd.

The van, according to police, was negotiating a curve when the driver identified as Felicidad Lopez lost control and it moved backward and moved out of the road and into the ravine.

Since Forevermore debuted on televisions in October, visitors have been climbing to Sitio Pungayan in Tuba at Mt Cabuyao to be with the stars of the show. This influx increased in December, causing traffic to come to a standstill as thousands went to their pilgrimage, despite a P25 peso per person “environmental fee” from Tuba.

From a one-store sitio, the area also is now teeming with dozens of stalls selling souvenirs and Baguio vegetables and fruits. Sitio Pungayan was also rebaptized as Sitio la Presa after the mythical garden village of Forevermore. – Frank Cimatu/Rappler.com